For some reason this picture reminds me of little ol' me and GREAT BIG GOD and how much HE loves me.
A Lenten Prayer
The Lenten season begins. It is a time to be with you, Lord, in a special way, a time to pray, to fast, and thus to follow you on your way to Jerusalem, to Golgotha, and to the final victory over death.
I am still so divided. I truly want to follow you, but I also want to follow my own desires and lend an ear to the voices that speak about prestige, success, pleasure, power, and influence. Help me to become deaf to these voices and more attentive to your voice, which calls me to choose the narrow road to life.
I know that Lent is going to be a very hard time for me. The choice for your way has to be made every moment of my life. I have to choose thoughts that are your thoughts, words that are your words, and actions that are your actions. There are not times or places without choices. And I know how deeply I resist choosing you.
Please, Lord, be with me at every moment and in every place. Give me the strength and the courage to live this season faithfully, so that, when Easter comes, I will be able to taste with joy the new life that you have prepared for me.
Amen.
This is an excerpt from Henri Nouwen's book "The Road to Daybreak". Today is Ash Wednesday. I'm supposed to sacrifice or give up something today that will in some way bring me closer to Jesus and the incredible sacrifice He made for me with His life. When I think of the things I could give up, like coffee or chocolate or Italian food - the 3 food groups that mean the most to me - they all seem awfully lame in comparison.
Lent hasn't really been that hard for me because I give up stuff like that. But this year the word that keeps creeping into my mind is "time" (which happens to be my word for the year). I believe I'm supposed to give up time somehow. I'm waiting for Him to show me how He wants me to do that - what it would look like. I thought it meant blogging everyday for 40 days - that would take time. But I'm leaving tomorrow at noon for a Walk to Emmaus and there's no internet connection at the camp. Maybe it's just taking the time to write something for 40 days. I don't know. I'm hoping He shows me before I receive the ashes tonight.
From dust I came. From dust I return. Forgiven and loved by a most marvelous God. Oh how He loves me!
